BILL NUMBER: SB 1898	CHAPTERED  09/23/00

	CHAPTER   588
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 23, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 25, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 16, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 3, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 24, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Solis
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Alquist and Romero)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to add and repeal Section 69561.5 of the Education Code,
relating to student financial aid.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1898, Solis.  Student financial aid:  Student Opportunity and
Access Program.
   Existing law establishes the Student Opportunity and Access
Program, which is administered by the Student Aid Commission, and
requires the commission to apportion funds for the support of
programs designed to increase the accessibility of postsecondary
educational opportunities to low-income and ethnic minority students.

   This bill would require the commission, in collaboration with the
various segments of higher education, to develop and establish a
pilot program entitled "Transfer:  Making It Happen," which would
assist community college students who are planning to transfer to a
4-year institution of higher education by providing academic
preparation and information on financial aid opportunities.
   The bill would require that, on or before December 1, 2004, the
California Postsecondary Education Commission submit to the Governor
and the Legislature a report including all of the findings and
recommendations of an evaluation of the pilot program carried out
during the 3rd year of the operation of the pilot program.
   These provisions would be repealed as of January 1, 2006.
   The bill would require the Student Aid Commission to expand the
Student Opportunity and Access Program by adding up to 5 new sites in
the 2000-01 fiscal year.  The bill would also allow existing Student
Opportunity and Access Program consortia to expand their services,
as prescribed.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 69561.5 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   69561.5.  (a) In collaboration with the various segments of higher
education, the Student Aid Commission shall develop and establish a
pilot program entitled "Transfer:  Making It Happen."  This program
shall encourage community college students to transfer to a four-year
institution of higher education, and assist them in this endeavor by
providing academic preparation and information on financial aid
opportunities.  The program shall be modeled after the "College:
Making It Happen" program.
   (b) The pilot program established by this section shall target
students who attend those community colleges or high schools that
participate in one of the Student Opportunity and Access Program
consortia, who are primarily from low-income households, who would be
the first in their families to attend college, or who are from
schools or geographic regions with documented low college eligibility
or college participation rates.
   (c) (1) The Student Opportunity and Access Program shall provide,
in close collaboration with the personnel of the California Community
Colleges who are responsible for advising students about transfer
opportunities, each of the following direct student services under
this section:
   (A) Provision of specialized academic and financial aid
information related to a transfer to an institution that grants
baccalaureate degrees.
   (B) Provision of personalized attention, such as one-on-one
counseling and group workshops that inform students of opportunities
to transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees.
   (C) Working closely with community college transfer centers in
strengthening direct services and outreach provided to students who
plan to transfer to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees.

   (2) The services listed in paragraph (1) shall be offered to, but
not necessarily limited to, students who indicate an interest in
transferring to an institution that grants baccalaureate degrees.
   (d) (1) During the third year of the operation of the pilot
program established by this section, the California Postsecondary
Education Commission, in consultation with the Legislative Analysts'
office, shall evaluate the program in order to determine its
effectiveness.  The evaluation shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, recommendations on both of the following:
   (A) How the program may improve the services it provides.
   (B) How the program may be expanded beyond those community
colleges that participate in one of the Student Opportunity and
Access Program consortia.
   (2) On or before December 1, 2004, the California Postsecondary
Education Commission shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature
a report including all of the findings and recommendations of its
evaluation.
  (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2006,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2006, deletes or extends that date.

  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
   (a) In the 2000-01 fiscal year, the Student Aid Commission shall
accomplish both of the following:
   (1) Expand the Student Opportunity and Access Program by adding up
to five new consortia.
   (2) Allow existing Student Opportunity and Access Program
consortia to expand their services as to the type of service
rendered, the number of students served, and the geographic regions
in which services are provided.
   (b) The Student Aid Commission may delay the local matching fund
requirement for any new services established by existing consortia of
the Student Opportunity and Access Program and any statewide
multiconsortia activities that are established pursuant to this
section.
  SEC. 3.  It is the intent of the Legislature that, of the funds
appropriated in schedule (a) of Item 7980-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of
the Budget Act of 2000 for the purposes of the Student Opportunity
and Access Program, up to one million five hundred thousand dollars
($1,500,000) shall be expended by the Student Aid Commission for the
purposes of Section 69561.5 of the Education Code.  It is also the
intent of the Legislature that the remaining three million five
hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) of the funds appropriated in
that schedule be expended for purposes of Section 2 of this act.
